Chelsea transfer news: Diego Costa admits he was sorry with the way he left Blues as he finalises £67m Atletico Madrid move in Spain
Spaniard has spent the summer in exile having refused to return to Chelsea after boss Antonio Conte told him he wouldn't be part of his plans by text
DIEGO COSTA admitted he was sorry with the way he left Chelsea as he landed in Madrid to finalise his £67million move to Atletico.
The striker smiled and happily posed for photos with many of the waiting children as he was met by adoring fans at the Adolfo Suarez airport in the Spanish capital,
Costa was reported to have been told he did not feature in Antonio Conte's plans at the end of last season, and he insisted he was disappointed with how his time at Stamford Bridge ended.
Asked how he felt upon his return to Madrid, he beamed: "I'm delighted.
"It has taken too long, but has had a happy ending.
"Now I'm looking forward to seeing my team-mates and training.
"This is not how I wanted things to end at Chelsea, I had a good relationship with the people there.
"I'm not the type of person who would have wanted to leave in that way.
Chelsea transfer news
"But I wanted to return. I was happy at Chelsea, who are also a big club, but Atletico is my home."
Costa hit back at those who criticised his lack of fitness over the summer, insisting the "scary" Atletico fitness coach will soon whip him into shape.
He added: "After three months without training I'm not in as bad a shape as people are saying.
"Here we'll have Prof. Ortega who will help me - and his training sessions scare me more than the scales."
Around 200 fans were at the airport to greet their returning hero.
Initial reports suggested he was set to land at 1:45pm local time — but he wouldn't appear until gone 4.
And, despite seeing their airport parking fees rising with every hour, fans braved it out, with Costa clearly grateful for their support.
He willingly posed for photos with children clad in Atletico kits and attempted to acknowledge as many supporters as he could with an autograph or even a wave.
Beaming from ear-to-ear, the 28-year-old strode through the airport to the sound of fans chanting his name.
Once his move is completed, he will overtake Radamel Falcao as the most–expensive acquisition in the club's history.
Costa is expected to get his first glimpse of the brand-new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium for tomorrow's clash with Sevilla, where he will likely be paraded in front of fans.
And his first experience under the lights will be against his former club on Wednesday in the ground's first-ever Champions League match.
Costa left Atletico for Chelsea in 2014, but will make his return in January once the Rojiblancos' Fifa-imposed transfer ban is lifted.
It complicated negotiations over a deal and the summer transfer window slammed shut with unwanted Costa still a Chelsea player.
And he admitted he started to get worried the move wouldn't happen.
He added: "You always get a bit nervous when time passes and nothing happens.
"But [president] Miguel Angel Gil made a real effort and I am very appreciative."
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- Harry Kane (West Ham v Spurs): "The Tottenham star is up and running now."
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